Is it correct to reduce the rights of Palestinian prisoners while Gilad Shalit is still held captive?

The PLO along with Hamas claim that that the conditions in Israeli jails are worst than the concentration camps. How can one argue with such delusions. The hatred to the Jews in the Muslim world is similar to Nazi germany.

I would distinguish by types of prisoners. Those that can be classified as terrorists should not have these rights to begin with, whether or not Gilad was in captivity. Why give them the luxuries of TV in arabic and better education than they would get in their own cities when they are trying to murder you? Those that are political prisoners would have slightly more rights than terrorists, but those can also be treated with fewer priveleges – yes, these are priveleges and not ‘rights’ – than ordinary criminals. As for lowering Israel’s moral image in the eyes of the world, Israel needs to take a page out of the book from the Torah. When Jacob has to deal with the treachurous Lavan, he resorts to the same trickery being dealt against him. Or as the saying goes, when in Rome…

I so agree with what Nathan said, what did Gilad Shalit ever do to deserve his captivity? He was an IDF soldier that was helping to defend his country. So yes, he is a bonified POW deserving of regular visits from the International Red Cross agency. But, he never got even one visit from them, due to the refusal of his captors and their cruelty. All ‘human rights’ have been denied to Gilad. G-d only know how much torture and deprivation this young man has suffered at the hands of his “Hamas” captors, and not a peep from the ‘international community’ who are so outraged when an Arab is supposedly ‘mistreated’ by Israel. Yet the convicted Palestinian Arab prisoners of Israel are allowed regular visits from the Red Cross/Crescent agencies and are allowed to play games, watch television, read, learn, have decent living conditions and on and on. Still the world looks at Israel as “occupiers, torturers, murderers, etc.” They say we don’t treat the “Palestinian Arabs” with respect, etc.
I would like to know how much further does Israel have to bend before there is an end to this appeasement to the world? Will there ever be enough to satisfy them all? I doubt it. Israel needs to wake up and realise that releasing 1000 terrorists with blood on their hands for one IDF soldier is madness! What will the result of this political manuever be for Israel? Most likely these monsters will return to their murdering ways and more Israeli citizens will die! Well, the Hamas leader who commented on Israel’s decision said it the best . . . “We just proved that the kidnapping of soldiers is justified, because it WORKS!!!” Yet the leaders of Israel still don’t get it, even when Hamas tells them to their faces that KIDNAPPING WORKS . . . does this sound like they will stop at Gilad Shalit? What if the next soldier taken is G-d forbid a female soldier? What will Israel’s Government tell her family while she is being tortured and raped, and denied any ‘human rights’. Will Israel give away 2000 terrorists the next time, or maybe even more, what will be the end of all of this? This is a dangerous precident that is being set.

Now that an agreement has been reached to exchange Arab terrorists for Gilad Shalit, the question is irrelevant. I do however have one query, in retrospective, I would appreciate a learned opinion on the question. We were always hearing that the terrorists were entitled to Red Cross visits, under international law, as indeed was Gilad. But wait a minute – Gilad was a genuine POW, but the Aeabs were convicted and sentenced butchers, killers, murderers and blood thirsty bababarians. They were not POW’s. Please your opinions.

we need to implement the death penalty for anyone with Jewish blood on their hands. we also need to stop worrying about what the world thinks. our supporters will remain our supporters and the anti-shemetim will never like us, we must do only what is best for our homeland and protect ourselves against the maniacim who want to destroy us. no room for debate.

Wonderful news about Gilad’s release! The world was silent for years and did nothing to have this young man released! Gilad’s captivity became a symbol of the world’s apathy towards Israel and the Jewish people but he also became a symbol of the sense of community that exists between Jews and the ability of the Jewish people to never lose hope and of their reverence for life! One way or another Gilad had to be returned to his family, to the Jewish people and to the State of Israel. Now a way has been found to accomplish that but it does not seem very satisfactory. However, I have great faith in the resourcefulness and initiative of Israel and the many highly skilled and intelligent people who defend it. Whatever happens as a result of this swap Israel will deal with in its own time and in its own unique way – of that I am sure! Israel will also now be free to exact justice upon those responsible for this despicable act of terrorism because Gilad will no longer be their hostage! I also know that Israel will use all the resources available to it to support Gilad in overcoming any damage caused by these cowardly captors! “Blessed are you, Hashem, Who heals the sick of his people Israel.”

Israel keeps bending over to project an image of fairness and goodwill towards the Palestinians, no questions asked. Politics like business in general require a bit of give and take. It seems to me that Israel is all “give” and “no take”. Beware that one too many concession does not lead to a complete capitulation.

There are several things that shoud be taken into consideration before answering this question definitively:

1) Do the Israeli’s wish to lower themselves to the Palestinians in terms of prisoner treatment. This impacts how Israel is viewed in the World community and also is a commentary on Israeli human rights values.

2) Do Israeli’s even know the level of treatment of Shalit?

3) By reducing Palestinian prisoner rights, Israel could be prompting even poorer treatment of Shalit.

4) Given their low premium on human life/suffering, would lowering prisoner rights even impact Palestinian conscience or actions?

5) On the other hand, should Israeli’s consider the feedback impact of Palestinian prisoners regarding their treatment (that is if Palestinians are allowed to communicate with Palestinian authorities about these things)?

Frankly it will shock me to actually see this poor young man. And if he is alive? There is no telling the extent of torture that they put Shalit through. Making “nice-nice” with Islamic Totalitarianism never works because one has to BE human to have compassion or empathy for another.

Especially…with these people who continually harass The Jews….I pray for this young man and for Israel + the Peace of Jerusalem…soon there will be peace.

Question? why is it that Israel gives away/sets free 100’s -maybe many more of the terrorist killers of Islam back into the battle and Israel are lucky to get a few? That’s always puzzled me.

#1 – Is it correct to reduce the rights of Palestinian prisoners while Gilad Shalit is still held captive? YES!

No. The way we treat prisoners is a reflection of our values, whether or not we feel the prisoners “deserve” it. Punishing adversaries symbolically is what they do, not what we do. That’s the difference between us. If we erase that difference, we’re no better than they are. That’s why the Dome is still on the Temple Mount. If the situation were reversed, if it was a (the) Temple, it would be ashes and pebbles by now.

It’s overwhelmingly obvious that no one thinks we should treat palestinian prisoners as well as they are being treated, in light of how Gilad Shalit is being treated. The question is why are they treated so well? … by whom … and what can we do about it? This needs to be made an issue of electing the next administration in Israel. Personally I’m for a return of the death penalty for killing Israeli citizens.

I agree. I’m generally against the death penalty, even for murder, but in this case the intent needs to weigh in – people who are dedicating their lives to genocide (even if they’re horribly unsuccessful) should not be allowed to remain alive. In the US you would be sentenced to death for much less.

All prisoners who originate from Gaza should be treated exactly as Shalit . i.e. solitary confinement, no visits, no gifts, no comunications but the Red Cross must be allowed contact, after all we are not inhuman. The other ‘palestinians’ should only suffer no visits.

One Gilad Shalit is worth 1000 Palestinians. Who said this? Why it was Hamas! By demanding the release of so many of their terrorists, they admit the cockroach-like terrorists are practically wastes of human skin. However, as a lawyer, I must (grudgingly) point out that how a terrorist entity treats its kidnap victim is separate from how a democracy treats its convicted prisoners. I have to admit that the angry, dark side of me wants the Israeli government to quietly inform Hamas that, if Shalit dies in their custody, they will get their 1000 prisoners back – in coffins. It is soooo hard to retain one’s perspective when dealing with the uncivilized terrorists!

The idea of prisoners being treated like celebrates is inane. These individuals are living in better conditions than some of Israel’s poor. Feed them and house them. If they don’t like the menu they can skip a meal. Israeli prisons are Kosher. I know many Muslims who when they couldn’t get Halal ate Kosher and were fine. Everything else is icing. The treatment of Gilad Shalit only goes to underline how ridiculous Israel is with its head over heals treatment of prisoners. However, even if Shalit was released Israel should not be running pseudo country clubs!

In terms of the current hunger strike, let them eat if they want, let them starve to hunger if they want. Israel is too conditioned to give when something looks bad. So Israel gives and gives and gives and gives–and the world still hates us. What difference would it make/

I have felt for a long time that we are wrong to treat terrorists here in Israeli prisons as if they were normal prisoners. They should be treated as Gilad Shalit is treated, no visitors, no access to the ouside world, basic minimal food only water to drink.No education and no TV. What to us is being humane is seen by the Arabs as weakness. Treat them as the vermin that they are!

Palestinian terrorists have already gone on a hunger strike because of reduced privileges. For an unfair and detrimental lack of the death penalty in Israel, which contradicts the Torah, I say let them starve to death.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.No pity,being nice does not pay for certain people.If Israel behave the same as hamas they would be blamed and if they behave like humans they would be blamed anyway,somehow Israel is viewed differently from any other nation,look the way they are treated at the UN(Unfriendly Nations).

It is shameful the way we have been treating palestinian prisoners so far. They are a waste of space, of time, of much needed financial resources. It is a mistake there’s no death penalty for them. They should be locked up and the key thrown away. Prison is supposed to punish and educate: it should teach them not to risk getting locked up again, instead we give them a university degree. They should feel uncomfortable and deprived: prison is not a holiday. As for Gilad, how have we sunk to the depth that we compare a kidnapping victim to a gang of convicted, unrepentant murderers? They should not come up together in the same sentence. I am all in favor of reduced rights for palestinian prisoners, reduced to zero.

They want to be to be glorified for their terrorism? Fine–treat them like terrorists, not soldiers. Build another Guantanamo in the Negev. No air conditioning, no special treatment, no televisions, no gym, no cell phones, no visits except IRC,no nothing. Put them in their cages and put canvas over the top—lots of water. Food as needed. No torture at all—just utter stinking captivity.

No, it is not. This is not about vengeance but about justice. The issues are entirely separate morally. If it is incorrect to reduce their rights at other times, it is incorrect now. The barbarism of Hamas is irrelevant..

As long as Gilad Shalit is held captive Palestinian prisoners should receive similar treatment. No visitors or contact with the outside world. Israel is not respected for it’s humane treatment of those trying to annihilate them. They can’t even seem to put to death those that richly deserve it like that Lebanese murderer who now is paraded around as a hero by the Arabs. The Hamas is feared because it is brutal, the same as Islam. Two can play that game. The hell with righteousness, you will still be dead if they get their way, and this is a WAR.

Of course, Israel must do SOMETHING!! It is outrageous and insane that Palestinian prisoners get all the privileges of country club prisons, opportunities for continued education, even degrees, etc.
What is going on? Doesn’t Israel understand that these “warm and loving” acts are only looked upon with disdain, further hatred, and totally perceived weakness! That Israel can’t infiltrate Hamas and find out even where he is is mindboggling after all these years. What has happened to the Israel of power and strength????

They have zero rights. The Geneva convention is about military in uniform falling prisoners. Arab terrorists are not military and have no uniform beside a mask hiding their identity. Anyone with a mask and a gun in hand should be shot on first sight. If not and they are taken prisoners they should be happy that they are alive. Arab terrorists in jail should not expect studies, books, TV, visits, giving orders to their associates like they do today. Cut everything. No radio, not TV no nothing and particularly no visits.